Sharon looked to her side and then up, at the man who spoke to her. Johann and Robert detected fear in her voice as she spoke.
“No, Mister Earl. We don't. I'm sorry. It won't happen again, I promise.”
Earl gazed into her eyes and smiled an almost evil smile. After a moment, Sharon excused herself and rushed back to the kitchen. Earl now turned his attention to the two men sitting at the table.
“Gentlemen. My humble apologies. You are new in town, and sometimes the townspeople here like to tell 'folk tales.' They think that it adds to the atmosphere. Please, enjoy your breakfasts on me.”
“No harm done, you don't need to do that,” Robert said. Earl put his hand up as though stopping Robert.
“No, no. I insist. Please,” responded the tall man. He smiled at the two and took his leave.
“Well, that's awfully nice of him,” Robert said, as he started once again to eat his breakfast.
“Hmm,” Johann muttered, “I'm not so sure.”
“Well, he is buying us our breakfast,” Robert said.
“Did you see the way he looked at that waitress? There's something weird going on here,” Johann answered.
Johann kept vigil on Earl out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that the man went to the counter and into the kitchen area once again. This time, he walked briskly, as though angered about having caught one of his employees, as she talked about the goings on in the community to some total strangers.
After Johann and Robert finished their breakfasts, Sharon walked back over to them. She tried, rather unsuccessfully, to show a bright, happy smile.
“You boys all through,” she asked, “How was everything?”
“Yes,” Johann answered, “Everything was fine. Can we have the check, please?”
“Oh, no,” the waitress said, the nervousness in her voice betrayed her calm demeanor, “Mister Earl said it was on him, and to make sure you boys are satisfied. You two must be very important yourselves. He never tells anyone their tab is 'on him,' like he did with you two.”
“Is that so,” Johann asked, as he and Robert got up from their chairs
“You be sure to come back again,” Sharon said, as she offered her hand for Johann to shake. He glanced at her, puzzled for a moment. He was not used to having a waitress shake his hand when he left a restaurant. Just the same, he smiled at her and took her hand.
While he clasped her hand, he felt what seemed to be a small piece of paper in her hand, and realized she pushed it into his hand. He made eye contact with her and took note that she wore an almost pleading expression in her eyes. He took the small slip of paper, and put it in his pocket, as he and Robert walked out to his car.
When they got in the car, Johann took the small paper out of his pocket and unfolded it.
“What's that,” asked Bob.
“A note the waitress slipped to me when she shook my hand.”
“What's it say? Her address and phone number,” Bob said, with a chuckle. Johann stared at the paper for a moment before he answered. He glanced over at Robert and handed him the paper. The coroner opened the note and read it. After a moment, he gazed back at Johann and handed the note back to him.
On the note was a simple message - “126 Spring Street. 555-9907. Help.”
-3-
Johann started the car and drove over to the gas pumps. The filling station consisted of three islands with two pumps, back to back, on each end. He pulled up to one of the pumps on the middle island.
Robert remained in the vehicle when Johann got out to pump the gas. After he swiped his credit card and placed the filler nozzle in the fuel tank filler tube, Johann placed his hands in his pockets and studied all the other customers. One customer caught his attention.
The customer, a man who appeared to be in his forties, was stopped at the next island over from Johann. What drew Johann's attention was the expression on the man's face as he prepared to fuel his car. His face showed the signs of depression. The man's eyelids drooped, as though he had been awake for days, and now wanted to go to sleep. He didn't grin. Even when he made eye contact with Johann, who gave him a warm smile, the gentleman's face showed no glimmer of happiness at all. Almost as though he some devastating news had come his way.
At the same time Johann observed this man go through the motions as he prepared to fuel his car, a Raven appeared out of nowhere. It landed on top of the man's car. Man, and bird turned to face each other and made eye contact. The two held each other's gaze for a moment. This piqued Johann's interest, because, not only did the bird not fly away, but the man now started to show some emotion.
The bird and man studied each other, and the man's expression grew more terrified, as the encounter went on. After what seemed to Johann to be a long time, the bird let out a cry and took flight from the car. Johann became apprehensive as the man turned his attention back to putting fuel in his car, almost as though nothing had happened.
The man stood there, with the filler nozzle in his hand. He pressed the button for the grade of gasoline he wanted and reached into his shirt pocket with his free hand. For a moment, he fumbled around in the pocket. When he withdrew his hand, it held a shiny object. Robert, having had a ringside seat for the whole thing, grew nervous about what the man now held in his hand, and decided it was time to remove himself from the car.
A distraught man, a cigarette lighter, and a fuel pump. In Johann's mind, this could not, in any way, be a good combination. The demon hunter tried to make some light conversation, in an attempt to alleviate the situation.
“Nice weather today,” he said, doing his best to sound as though he didn't notice the bird, a key element in this mini-drama, as far as Johann was concerned. The man glanced up at him. Johann could almost feel the unspoken “Keep your nose out of my damned business.” The man again looked back down at the ground. Johann decided to try a different approach.
“Pretty friendly bird, wouldn't you say,” he said. He began to get nervous now. He heard what sounded like liquid, as it spilled on the pavement. The chemical odor of gasoline infiltrated the air. The man looked up at him, his face distorted in a cross between horror and anger. He glared at Johann for a moment. Their eyes locked, and the anger left the man's face. Only a pained expression remained.
“Please forgive me,” the man said. He whimpered, as he raised the hand, which held the gasoline filler nozzle.
“No, Don't,” Johann yelled, as he noticed the gas still poured from the filler nozzle to the ground. The man turned the nozzle on himself and started to drench himself in the flammable liquid.
“Johann, get in the car,” Robert yelled, as he, himself, rushed as fast as he could to the safety of the vehicle. Johann rushed to take the filler nozzle out of his car and shoved it back on the pump. He dove over the trunk of the car and rushed to his door
“Everybody, get away from the pumps,” yelled Johann, as he got in his car. He started the vehicle and pushed the throttle pedal to the floor to escape. The distraught man lit the cigarette lighter which he had taken out of his pocket moments before. The sound of screams, shouts, and crying tires filled the air, as everyone else at the pumps rushed to distance themselves as fast as they were able.
The distinctive sound of super-heated air and fast spreading flames grew louder as all the gasoline fumes ignited at the same moment. The overwrought man let out a blood-curdling scream. His clothing, and skin, caught fire and his flesh began to burn, and melt.
Johann stopped the car a safe distance from the fire. He and Robert got out. They wanted to help the man, but the area fast became a wall of flame and acrid black smoke. The fire grew and enveloped him and his vehicle.
Unexpected movement caught Johann's attention, and he realized everyone in the restaurant had come out of the building. Several onlookers stood too close to the brewing catastrophe. They held up their hands, in an attempt to shield their faces from the heat of the blaze.
Someone rushed over, and pushed the emergency shut-off for the f
uel pumps, as the flames began to lick at the fuel dispensers. The victim, still screaming, began to run toward the road. At the same time, the tires on his car surrendered to the intense heat and exploded. Everyone rushed for shelter.
Johann grabbed a blanket from the back of his car and chased after the man. Robert followed suit. Johann caught the victim, wrapped the blanket around him and forced him to the ground.
Once Johann had the man on the ground, he rolled and patted all over to extinguish the flames. After a few moments, the flames died. Johann knelt next to the still living, but suffering man, and turned him to a face-up position. He saw the man was still breathing, although only barely.
The man's face still retained some skin, but most of the flesh was either charred or burned away altogether. All the hair that once adorned his head was gone, and the odor of burned flesh and hair was in the air. Johann thought to himself it was a miracle the man still breathed at all.
He knew the man had surely swallowed flames and heat. It became obvious to him; the man's fate was sealed. Johann examined the victim's hands. Most of his fingers had been burned off. One hand was burned so badly, the cigarette lighter itself became embedded in the charred, black mass. Robert caught up and knelt next to Johann. Sirens pierced the still, mid-morning air, as they approached the scene.
“Jesus,” Robert said, not ready for the sight. Johann turned abruptly, and hushed him, then turned his attention back to the critically injured man.
“Hang in there. Help's coming, buddy,” Johann said, as he tried to reassure the victim and keep him calm. The man made eye contact with Johann and tried hard to breathe.
“Please, let me go,” the man said, pleading to be allowed to die. He gasped for air as he tried to speak. The crowd now began to gather, and close in. This prompted Robert to get to his feet and try to keep all the people at bay, so Johann could try and help the man.
“You're going to be alright,” Johann said.
“No,” the man said, as he gasped, “You don't know -,” He stopped, closed his eyes, and arched his back in pain, He drew a deep breath. Slowly, his eyes again opened, and he once again made eye contact with Johann. The expression on his face changed to one of deep sympathy. For a final moment, his thoughts became crystal clear. He gestured with his eyes that he wanted to whisper in Johann's ear. He lowered his head to the man's mouth.
“We're glad you're here,” the man managed to whisper, “Beware. The Raven flies at night -,” the man said, as he coughed, and spat up blood from his mouth. He tried to raise his head to Johann's ear one last time.
“Theresa,” the man strained to say. Johann turned his head and peered at the man, puzzled how a stranger would possibly know about his sister, who had been taken by a demon. Johann gazed at him for a moment, as he tried to decide if he were talking about his sister, or someone else.
“What about Theresa,” Johann asked.
He did not get an answer to his question. The victim relaxed, and the air in his lungs escaped. He stopped breathing, and his body went limp. The life light in his eyes went out, and his eyes rolled back. Where, a moment before, there were an iris and pupil, it was now only bloodshot white. The air in the immediate area began to fill with a foul odor, as the remains of the body released all its waste products at the same time. Johann glanced down at him. The man's mouth and eyes were open. Johann, compassionately, closed them.
“Rest in peace,” Johann whispered. Almost as though out of habit, Johann caught himself as he blessed the corpse. He was unaware of one particular person in the crowd, which had gathered from the restaurant, who had closely monitored his actions. He lay the man's head back down on the ground, as the rescue workers arrived on the scene.
Johann got up and began to walk back to his car, deep in thought. Robert walked alongside, curiosity about what the man whispered to his friend filled his thoughts.
They arrived back at the car, and Johann used both his hands to brush his short, sandy blond hair back and cradled his head in his hands on the roof of the vehicle. Robert placed his hand on Johann's shoulder in an attempt to comfort his friend.
“Johann,” Robert said, “What did he say to you?” His friend turned his head and glanced at Robert a moment.
“It didn't make any sense. First, he said 'We're glad you're here,' then he said, 'The Raven flies at night.',” Johann replied. His lips began to quiver, as he finished telling his friend about the victim's last words. “The last thing he said to me was,” he hesitated for a moment, “ 'Theresa.' ”
Robert's mouth dropped open. He didn't expect to hear anything close to what Johann had just told him. His only reaction was to stare at Johann in silence and blink his eyes in utter disbelief. Johann turned away from Robert, to hide the tears that formed in his eyes.
Johann instinctively clenched his fist to punch something but controlled himself not to. He collected his emotions and turned to face the scene where the rescue workers were now busy placing the burned corpse in a blue body bag. Traffic on the road stopped, and the air filled with smoke and steam as the fire was being extinguished.
A man walked toward Johann with a police officer. He instantly recognized the man as being “Mister Earl,” and studied him as the two approached. He was not surprised by this, however. He knew Mister Earl was the owner of the place, so he would naturally want to know everything possible about the incident.
Mister Earl put his hand out to shake Johann's, as they reached Johann and Robert.
“Thank you for what you did, to try and save that poor man,” Earl said, as he peered directly into Johann's eyes. He forced a smile to give the impression of sincerity. “This whole thing could have been much worse than it was, if not for your brave actions, young man.”
“Thank you,” Johann replied, as he tried to judge the man's sincerity, which he found to be suspect at best. He turned his attention to the police officer and immediately recognized him.
“I saw you at that diner down the road a while ago,” Johann said.
“Yes,” answered the officer, “I remember seeing you there. I have some questions if you don't mind.”
“What can I do for you,” asked Johann.
“Did you know Mister Quinton?”
“Mister Quinton,” asked Johann, puzzled.
“Alexander Quinton. That was the name of the victim you tried to save,” the officer gestured toward the rescue workers. Johann glanced over at the scene.
“No. Never met him before.”
“Did he say anything to you before the fire started?”
“All he said was 'Please forgive me.' ”
The police officer glanced at Mister Earl, then back to Johann.
“What was it he whispered into your ear before he expired,” the officer asked. Johann began to feel uncomfortable with this line of interrogation. He hesitated for a moment. He knew if he told the officer exactly what the man said, it would raise more questions and lead to a conversation he didn't want.
“He simply repeated 'Please forgive me,' ” Johann answered, after a moment.
The police officer and Earl glanced at each other one more time. This time, the officer had an expression on his face, as though asking a question.
“I'm satisfied,” Earl said. He turned to Johann and forced his smile once again. “Thank you for your help,” he said.
The two walked away, and Robert moved a little closer to Johann.
“Oh, officer,” Johann yelled after the policeman. The officer and Mister Earl stopped and turned to face him. “My condolences on your partner's friend,” said Johann. The officer gazed at Johann for a moment, before he turned to Mister Earl, who said something to him that Johann could not hear.
“Thank you,” the officer said to Johann, as he and Mister Earl turned and walked away again.
“That was damned weird,” Robert said.
“Yes, it was,” Johann answered, as he stroked his mustache, deep in thought.
He and Robert glanced at the res
taurant, as Sharon, the waitress, walked toward the entrance to the eatery. She almost stared at the two men and stopped for a moment. Johann made eye contact with her. She began, again, to make her way back toward the entrance to the restaurant. A moment before she entered, she turned and faced Johann and Robert one more time, her face in a pleading gesture.
“Well,” Robert said, as he glanced back at Johann, “I'd say she's scared of something.”
“No shit,” Johann replied.
They stood there, as a black automobile came toward them. The logo on the side of the car became apparent. The same logo appeared on the truck at the diner and inside the restaurant where they just had breakfast. The rear window rolled down, as the car reached them, and stopped.
Mister Earl peered out at them from the back seat of his car.
“You boys enjoy your stay in our beautiful town,” he said. He maintained eye contact with Johann as his window rolled back up.
The two demon hunters kept an eye on the car as it left the parking lot, turned onto the road, and left the area.
“Something about that guy creeps me out,” Robert said.
“Me, too,” Johann replied, as he walked to the driver side of his car, “Come on. Let's find us a motel,”
They drove down the relatively crowded avenue, and both men silently - almost dutifully - studied the people they passed. There were people from all walks of life here. The mother with the baby stroller, the man in the business suit, that got into a taxi. The police officer, who stopped the teenage boy that drove too fast on the side street. The one thing that seemed to be conspicuously missing; no people were having a good time together.
Johann and Robert didn't see even a small group of people standing around enjoying themselves or a group of children playing together. The whole town gave the impression of “fun” being against the law.
“You know what really creeps me out,” Johann said, as he studied a woman standing on a corner. She stared, blankly, into nowhere, while she waited for the light to change.
The Raven Flies At Night (Father Gunter, Demon Hunter Book 2) Page 3
